Domestic fight ends in two deaths

Keith Paul

Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2002 | 9:52 a.m.

An argument Tuesday night between a Las Vegas couple with a history of domestic violence ended with the man killing the woman and then killing himself, Metro Police said.

A 32-year-old woman and a 50-year-old man were on the front lawn of their house in the the 7500 block Edgerton Drive, near Tenaya Way and Russell Road, about 11:55 p.m. Tuesday, arguing as their 5-year-old son looked on. The man was holding a shotgun as the couple argued.

The boy apparently became frightened and ran to a neighbor's door, ringing the bell and pounding on the door, said Sgt. Kevin Manning of Metro's homicide section.

The woman ran after the boy and pushed her way inside the neighbor's house. The man went after her and fired a blast from a shotgun that missed her and struck the house, police said.

The man then ran to the neighbor's door and pushed his way inside the home. The neighbor grabbed the couple's child and took him upstairs. The man then fired another blast from the shotgun, hitting the woman in the chest killing her, Manning said.

The man then left the neighbor's house and went to his home. He was just inside the door when he shot himself to death, police said.

The police found that the woman had been arrested on domestic violence charges on the man in 1997 at their home. The man had been arrested on domestic violence charges in 1988, Manning said.

The names of the man and woman were not available this morning. Relatives took custody of the 5-year-old boy early this morning.